Koirala’s Visit To India On A Positive Note

By Prem N. Kakkar

RELATIONS between Nepal and India have gained strength over the years. But in recent years, with the times, some adjustments have to be made so that the relations are on a strong foothold. There may be some minor irritants but the leaders of the two countries have shown their maturity in solving them through mutual understanding.

Visits

The exchange of visits between the countries at the highest level has helped in making the friendly relations an exemplary one. The open border extending from east to west allows for the free movement of the people of both Nepal and India. It has also contributed to making the ties strong as it is today. Controversies, if any, have been resolved through talks and that is an encouraging fact.

There have been regular visits of the heads of state and government between the two countries. In this context, the forthcoming official visit of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to India at the invitation of the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee deserves special mention. Premier Koirala is going to India on a two-day-visit from August 1. In fact, there is much hope resting on this particular visit as it is Mr. Koirala’s first visit abroad after becoming the Prime Minister for the fourth time some three and a half months back.

The visit is also significant in the sense that this comes after the talks between Nepal and India regarding security that was concluded in Kathmandu. At the end of the talks some significant decisions were made.

One decision was for the Nepalese and Indian air travellers to present some sort of identification papers. In fact, there had been a demand of this sort since many years not only for air passengers but even for those travelling by land. But this present decision only applies to those travelling by air.

The decision for seeking identification comes after the hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane some months ago. Both the sides have also agreed to keep a check on the terrorists and criminals who conduct cross-border activities. This is a valid reason why both the countries ought to be vigilant.

Prime Minister Koirala’s visit to India some two weeks later is expected to focus on some important issues. There is every reason to believe that the issue of the 1950 Treaty will also figure in the talks. In fact Nepal has for a long time been asking for talks to focus on this particular issue. The government at present is seeking consensus for the proposals to be made for reviewing the 1950 treaty with India.

Besides this the problems relating to border areas like Kalapani are also to be discussed. Whatever is done, the primary focus should be on national interest. The outstanding issues have to be resolved as they stand as irritants as far as Nepal-India ties are concerned. Both the countries stand to benefit if the friendly relations are not disturbed. In this effort the visit to India by Premier Koirala will do much.

At the beginning of the new millennium, the challenges in front of Nepal are great and there is an urgency to speed up the pace of development. As peace is essential for development thrust, friendly relations with the neighbouring countries are more than essential. With India, the relations are unique. As neighbours in the South Asian region, both countries have many similar problems and challenges.

Nepal does not allow any activities that is detrimental to any of its neighbours. The same is the case with India. But two countries side by side also have some problems which have to be resolved especially at such high level talks.

The political parties in Nepal are very eager for the Prime Minister to focus on the 1950 treaty which they consider has outgrown its age. Similarly, with an open border between the two countries it is natural that border disputes do occur. But such border disputes can be resolved through talks considering the strong relations between the two countries. Genuine efforts must come forth from both the parties so that the existing problems see a solution.

On the trade front, Nepal does not have a favourable balance of payment situation with India. Moreover, what has irked the businessmen in Nepal is that a special additional tax has been applied to exports from Nepal. This is in violation with the agreement with India. The matter has to be sorted out so that Nepalese exports to India continues without any hindrance. If this is done then Nepalese exports will have competitiveness and prove beneficial for the economy.

The Mahakali treaty was a landmark in Nepal-India ties but the implementation aspect has lagged behind. It is now necessary that steps be taken to implement the treaty for the benefit of both the countries.

The fact that both the countries belong to the same regional grouping must make matters easier. As members of SAARC, there is every need to speed up cooperation among the member countries for economic development. India has a big and vital role to play in this direction. Nepal too must pitch itself so that the ideals of SAARC receives momentum.

Hopes

Prime Minister Koirala’s coming visit to India has raised greater optimism regarding Nepal-India ties to be on a higher level. It is between two friends that problems can be resolved in a cordial atmosphere with the maximum level of understanding and cooperation. Much hopes rests on outcome of the visit. The visit is expected to prove as a landmark in relations between the two countries.

An Efficient Bureaucracy: Bold Steps Needed

By Khilendra Basnyat

TODAY, Nepal’s administration has still many challenges to surmount in providing services to the people, controlling corruption, coordinating and, practicing transparency and accountability.

Failure

Nepalese bureaucracy has become virtually non-funcational and unproductive. Due to the lack of efficient and responsible bureaucracy many development programmes have failed.

In recent times, political leaders, intellectuals, general people and even bureaucrats themselves accept that the country’s bureaucratic system has gone rusty and needs immediate reforms.

Today, the civil service has lost the prestige it had. One of the major allegations against bureaucrats is that it almost become synonym to corruption. There is hardly a governmental organisation or institutions free from corruption.

There is not only a lack of objective evaluation of civil servants but also a lack of reward and punishment system. Apart from this, there is unnecessary growth of organisational structure. Consequently, the bureaucracy has failed to make a presence felt among the people.

In fact, bureaucrats and civil servants have often been found functional when they have a chance to make exact money. In customs office, for example, one can see bureaucrats ready to work overtime even without getting additional from the government.

No doubt, low salary has been a problem for the civil servants to eke out a living. However, many civil servants, who are alleged for corruption, are already well off.

Sufficient salary and other incentives help motivate civil servants, but being corrupt and inefficient is more an attitude than not having adequate money.

Overpoliticisation of civil servants is another allegation for our non-productive democracy. When a civil servant has a strong political support, he or she can easily violate the rules and regulations and nobody dares to take action against him or her. Since the past few years there has also been a practice of changing the rules and regulations for the benefit and welfare of certain individuals.

After the restoration of democracy several governments of different political parties have been formed. However, each government’s statement is contradictory in regard to administrative reformation. What is more, each government talks of reformation but at the same time it recruits incompetent persons to the key positions.

Even though there have been some endeavours to reform the bureaucracy, the concerned authorities lacked a clear vision and commitment.

Soon after the restoration of the multi-party democracy, the first serious attempts was made when the government shook up the civil service by introducing new rules and regulations and retiring many senior bureaucrats.

The successive governments have not been able to implement the recommendations submitted by administration reform committees. As a matter of fact, they are offering only lip services.

Since the past few years, the distortions, disfigurements and deformities have made the bureaucracy of our country as ugly as the Augean Stable. Despite the realisation and demand for its reforms, cleaning up bureaucracy is not an easy job.

Senior bureaucrats and other concerned persons are of the opinion that we should get to the basics first if bureaucracy is to be made efficient as well as effective. According to them, meritocracy should be an essential ingredient of bureaucracy and there must be appropriate provisions for reward and punishment. However, this has been rarely found in our bureaucracy.

In recent times, political parties and politicians have at least started realising the need for making bureaucracy neutral and efficient. The present government’s recent moves and decisions were also guided by this realisation. In this regard, the action plan to reform and restructure bureaucracy was drafted and a workshop was also organised to discuss this action plan.

This undoubtedly indicates that the government has a keen interest in bringing about administration reforms and in making the bureaucracy effective and efficient to ensure good governance. This is a positive move which needs active support from every section.

The present government has taken some steps to reform bureaucracy in accordance with the recommendations given by the Administration Reform Commission. In this context, the size and the number of ministries have been reduced. However, cutting down the size and the number of ministries alone will not be sufficient to reform the administration. It has to be made sizeable and efficient if it is to be made people-oriented and responsible.

Our country’s overall development is not possible without good governance, and good governance is not possible without an effective and efficient civil service. Civil service is really the vehicle to implement the policies and programmes of the government. However, people from different walks of life feel that our bureaucracy is bloated and lethargic. For this reason, the bureaucracy needs to be restructured and reoriented to make it efficient, more responsible and accountable to the people.

Essential

No doubt, civil servants play a significant role for cleaning up our bureaucracy. However, the public feeling is that political interference has lowered the morale of civil servants. There have been many instances in the past where nepotism and favouritism have paid more than the qualification, seniority and efficiency of civil servants. This has lowered the morale of civil servants. In order to boost the morale of civil servants, some bold decisions are essential.

Taking A Swig

By Uday Lama

THE use of liquor or bottled beverages has increased due to its availability through the cutlets which distributed and sell them. This trend goes against those who abstain from it (teetolars, in fact). And the reason being that it is an addictive substance.

There are any number of brands to cater to the alcoholic. Producted locally or with foreign collaboration and with varying price tags to suit the pockets of the Kathmanduites. Because it is so easily available there is a tendency to abuse the stuff.

A peg or two after a hard day’s work either at home or office does not blur the senses. But it is hard to contain the crave for more and one gives into a drinking bout. The rest is left to the reader’s imagination—a hangover with a bitter taste in the mouth.

Clearly there is a need to curb this habit which is a mass consumption of ‘slow poison’. It is a depressant and acts on the brain centres, leading to intoxication. It may take several hours to ease the symptoms and usually antacid tablets are taken.

Alcohol is sold openly and freely in the market. Business is brisk and a shopkeeper can always count on that little extra from its sale. No license is needed and there is no age limit; so far the would-be drinker there is always the cocktail to lock forward to.

Elders don’t always provide for a role model when they imbibe hard drinks. And manage to send the wrong message, In this context it is good to remember that one too many will have an undesired effect.

In the social circuit of the town drinking is done by both sexes and the party progresses into a wild affair. Moderation is often flouted when it should be encouraged and followed.

The first sip is pleasant to the taste buds, swilled in the mouth to savour it the more and then swallowed when a burning sensation follows. An excess of the stuff means bile rising up in the throat. And to mess up if one has taken some snacks. The point should not be lost on those who cross the line and experiment.

There is a price for overdoing things and a burp indicates that one has had enough. But pressure from bad company to drink one more for the road keeps it flowing and makes one senseless so that it becomes difficult to find the way home.

There has been an effort on the part of the concerned authority to curb the use of the fiery spirit. Recently there was a ban placed on electronic and print media not to advertise them, whilst selling it to minors aged eighteen and below is considered an offence and liable to legal action.

Other measures such as levying a tax on every bottle, issuing licences to dealers and setting up a helpline for those seeking help could possibly act as a deterrent to discourage first-timers from trying out the hard drinks and taking a swig.’